May 23 2008
Ninety-one million Americans will spend at least part of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend working in their yards, according to the National Gardening Association, and it's a crucial time for homeowners to prepare their lawns for the hot, dry summer conditions ahead.
Contrary to popular belief, watering alone can't maintain a healthy lawn throughout the season. Regions that experience summer drought could get severe lawn damage that will last for years without the proper care.
"Preparing your lawn for a dry, hot summer is much easier and affordable than repairing damage, and with proper fertilization, watering techniques and mowing, you can help it withstand summer's harshest conditions," said John Buechner, Lawn Doctor's director of technical services. "A healthy lawn with an established root system will withstand water shortages, heat and disease without additional services to manage damage."
Lawn Doctor, the nation's leading expert in lawn care, offers tips for homeowners to prepare lawns for drought:
- Fertilize: Fertilizing with proper amounts of potassium promotes stress tolerance in grass and encourages survival in periods of low moisture. A balanced fertilizer consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is best, with 30 percent of the nitrogen slow release. Don't over fertilize: it increases the soil's salt content and causes landscaping to burn more easily in the summer heat.
- Water: Lawns require an inch of water per week over three to four watering sessions. To see if the lawn is receiving enough moisture, do a "footprinting" test: simply step on grass to see if a footprint is visible. If grass blades do not spring back and a footprint is visible, it's the first sign a lawn is in dire need of water.
- Mow: Mowing is healthy for lawns and trims away the oldest part of the plant, but cutting it too short can be disastrous. A higher cut -- generally trimming the top third of the plant -- will shade the roots and encourage a deeper root system. A deep root system can reach water further down in the soil, providing reserve power to survive dry spells. Reserve nutrients are also stored in the leaf blade. Cool season grasses, such as bluegrass, ryegrass and fescues, should maintain a height of 2.5 to 3.5 inches. Warm season grasses, like Bermuda, zoysia, Saint Augustine and centipede, should be kept at 1.5 to 2.5 inches tall.
- Lawn Design: To conserve water and promote growth, group plants with similar watering requirements together. Xeriscaping utilizes native plants adapted and designed to tolerate environmental conditions in your area. They are a low maintenance way to save money on water bills as well as add species and color variety to a garden.
- Plant the Right Grass: Grasses with substantial drought tolerance help homeowners protect their pocketbooks and maintain a lush lawn in summer months. Climate should be the key influencer when deciding what species of grass to plant. Tall fescue is best for regions with cool seasons, like the Northeast. Native grasses such as buffalograss have excellent drought resistance and are well suited for the Plains and Southwest. Bermuda, Saint Augustine and centipede grasses all have fair drought tolerance throughout the nation, and are best for warm season climates like the South.